Astronotus - content

In large aquariums, you can often see an astronotus, a fairly large fish with a very beautiful stain pattern. It has a slightly compressed oval shape with a convex forehead and an outstanding mouth. Astronotuses come in a variety of colors: blue, red, golden, canary yellow and even albino.

Contents astronotus in the aquarium

In an aquarium of 200 liters, only two astronotus can be kept. They are very fond of space, which means that if you want to have more than two fish, you will need an aquarium larger. It must necessarily be covered, since this predator, wishing to hunt for flies, can jump out.

Care and maintenance of astronotus are difficult. These fish by nature are calm, slow and even a little bit shy. From other aquarium fish they are very curious. Astronotuses are interested in everything that is in the aquarium and, if not to fix the equipment and decor, they will necessarily move it. Plants should preferably be purchased as artificial, as astronotus live algae will pull, although some amateurs of fish planted hornwort, fern, having a powerful root or floating salvini and elodea. To fish are not injured, the soil in the aquarium is better laid out from the ground large pebbles.

Conditions for keeping astronotuses

If you have an astronot in your house, it is quite difficult to keep the water clean. A good external assistant will be for you an external biofilter. He will successfully clean the aquarium of ammonia, which accumulates in the water, as well as a large catfish who is pleased to enjoy the remnants of food of his neighbors. Astronotus are very sensitive to lack of oxygen, so pay special attention to aeration and filtration of water. It is enough once a week to make a substitution of the third part of the water, so that the health of your fish is in order. Astronotus poorly tolerate cold water. To keep your pets healthy, keep the water temperature in the aquarium within 23-27 ° C.

Feed the cichlids with pieces of live or frozen fish or small live fish a couple of times a day. The astronotus is a great lover of food and, in order not to feed him, give him as much food as he can eat in two minutes. You can even arrange unloading days. Like all predators, astronauts like raw meat, beef liver and heart. They eat squids, tadpoles and snails, earthworms, and also bloodworms, flies and grasshoppers. If you do not have the opportunity to purchase animal food, you can feed astronauts with special feeds for cyclides. Some lovers of fish prepare food for future use, while keeping it crushed in a freezer.

Astronotus are ready for reproduction only after reaching two years. Spawning is best done in the summer. To fish could lay eggs, put a large stone in the aquarium. It is very interesting to observe how, prior to spawning, astronauts cleanse it with their lips. These large cichlids are very caring parents, therefore, at the end of spawning of adults, it is not necessary to plant. On the skin of astronotus secret is allocated, which is food for fry. At the bottom of the aquarium, put the Javanese moss, it will serve as a cover for the kids. And when they grow up, the best food will be Artemia, Cyclops and Daphnia.

Malcham substitution of water should be carried out at least two or three times a week, otherwise they may die. These amazing creatures live 10 -15 years.

With whom it is possible to contain astronotus, it is with large cichlops and synodonts, and also with those who are prickly or have hard scales and hard fins. Small fishes become food for astronomers.

Astronotus can be affected by infectious and non-infectious diseases. Of infectious diseases, hexamethosis is very dangerous, with ulcers on the head. But non-infectious diseases occur when conditions of detention are violated.